title: Clinical significance of platelet-associated immunoglobulins in narcotic addicts with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Increased amounts of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG) have been reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with thrombocytopenia. We have prospectively investigated PAIgG in 21 asymptomatic (group A; CDC stages IIA-IIB) and 9 symptomatic (group B: CDC stages IIIB-IV) HIV-infected narcotic addicts. In both groups only two subjects presented with a decreased platelet count. By competitive ELISA, we found a 1.8- and 2.3-fold greater total PAIgG (PAIgGtot) as measured on platelet lysates in group A and B, respectively; surface-bound IgG (PAIgGsurf) as measured on intact platelets was 2.5- and 3.0-fold greater in groups A and B, respectively, as compared to 36 controls. The ratio between PAIgGtot and PAIgGsurf was lower in HIV-infected addicts when compared to controls (P less than 0.05). This indicates that platelets from HIV-infected subjects not only have increased surface and internal pools of PAIgG, but also present with a distribution between these two pools that differs from that of normal platelets. In addition, levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) were abnormally raised in 17/21 (81%) subjects of group A in 6/9 (66%) subjects of group B.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of Hematology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borradori
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flueckiger
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Nydegger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell